MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

[StalePretzel]

Ok. So anybody who takes an interest in reliced telecasters/stratocasters knows you're a flat out idiot if you're putting down 4,000$ or more to have a guitar sand-blasted by a nitwit at the fender factory. Especially when there are CHEAPER and more AUTHENTIC looking ways to have it done.

One of the most famous "relicers" known is Mark Jenny (or MJT). You can send your guitar him and have him do it for around 400$ or so OR you can buy one of his pre-reliced guitar bodies for around the same price. Sounds decent right? Well, what if it gets better. While in this case MJT has the advantage of selling hardware individually, a new opponent has taken foot into the area of the relicing industry, and it's called Blackpoole Relics.

As some of you might have noticed, you don't see many (if any) well reliced necks for sale these days. Well look no further. Blackpoolse offers a well reliced guitar neck, and the best part is THEY LEAVE THE FRETBOARD ALONE. I can't tell you how sick i am of seeing poorly reliced fretboards on "Aged" guitar necks.

Mark Jenny knows he is a force to be reckoned with. His prices have reflected this as he has steadily raised them as time goes on. Anyways, heres something i noticed.

Here is a MJT Body.

And here is a Blackpoole reliced Butterscotch Body.

There's one big difference. MJT Price = 375$. Blackpoole Price = 399$.

For that 25$ more you spend on the Blackpoole body, you receive all the hardware and pickups already wired and set up on the body. With MJT you must put down another 200$ or so and buy each piece separately. Ouch.

What are your thoughts? Which one is better and why? I'm obviously partial towards Blackpoole, but I would like to hear someone elses take.

MJT Ebay Store

Blackpoole Ebay Store

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

Blackpoole gets my vote !

I like the aged hardware (it looks like a 40yo body / not over-done), and the body colour is by far the nicer one to my eyes.
The Blackpoole wins by a mile !


My 2cents

James

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

[insert something negative about relicing being a waste of time and energy better spent playing]

 

[59tele]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

I came across this thread doing a google serach for Blackpoole Relics and after reading this, decided to buy a Tele relic kit from them. I was thinking about MJT at first but I saw Blackpoole on ebay and wanted to see if others had any info on them.

It arrived on Friday and all I can say is its amazing! They pay attention to detail and EVERYTHING was spot-on. It looks like a 50 year-old guitar. It has that dark amber look to it that is so much more pleasing to my eye. Thanks for doing this shootout or I would have never tried them. I actually joined this forum today because of this AND because I Love SD pickups.

BTW: Did you see the kit yet? here's a few photos from their ebay store. VERY excited to have this guitar. Can't thank you enough for posting this shootout. great way to compare.

IMHO, Blackpoole does the BEST relic work I have ever seen. In fact, my brother is buying a kit from Blackpoole today!

I vote Blackpoole!!

59Tele

 

[beandip]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

After spending some time surfing both sites, my vote goes to Blackpoole as well. Not because of the hardware and everything included, but because of my experience with vintage guitars themselves. The blackpoole looks much more natural to me. Having had countless vintage guitars on my bench, not to mention the ones I've spent time with at many a guitar show, I'd like to think that I'm somewhat informed on the matter (I'm by no means an expert).

Stale, what's the deal with the tele man? You get it strung up yet?

 

[59tele]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

Hi beandip. I agree 100%. I have a few vintage pieces and the Blackpoole stuf LOOKS authentic. That's what grabbed my attention. It looked like my Esquire. PLUS, the comment about their necks is spot-on. Looks like it's been in a dark and dingy bar for decades. IMO, the fretboard wear some of the other guys do and even the stuff the Fender Custom Shop does looks FAKE - probably because they use a dremel tool! You know, the little streaks on the board. Not for me.

The Blackpoole stuff just looks genuinely old.

I'm going to buy a set of Five-Twos for it, then I'll get it together. You have any experience with these pickups? I wanted this guitar to be twangy and thought I'd try these.

 

[gkoelling]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

Interesting!

I have an idea how he's finishing his necks. I've done three recently that are quite similar. Mine don't have as much "nicotene" as his but altering the finish to achieve that look would be fairly easy.

In no way am I saying I'm as good as him but I have a couple very satisfied customers, so far.

One big difference is I use Tru-Oil on my necks and he's using nitro. I don't have the facilities to spray.

 

[StalePretzel]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

Wow. I posted this a while ago and was dissapointed that it really didn't go anywhere. I'm glad i could help you guys out. I believe both companies offer great quality, but only one offers the right price.

MJT has never had very much notable competition until now, so we'll see what he does next.

 

[59tele]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

MJT has never had very much notable competition until now, so we'll see what he does next.

After finding out about blackpoole, I told a friend that owns a music store about them in NJ. He called them up and actually went to their shop yesterday to see if they were interested in selling stuff to his store!! Said he met the owner and he was easy to deal with. He saw a new daphne blue Strat that looked "ancient" when walking around the shop. Said he never saw a finish that looked so old and "grimey".

In his opinion, what makes Blackpoole different is the grime and sweaty bar look and that most relics are beat but they're missing the played-in look. I agree. Guess that jives with what others are saying here, too. He also saw a dakota red tele that had a Bigsby set up that looked 'wicked" to him along with a bunch of 50's colors. Said it looked like the 1950's in there!! Guess we'll see what they do next soon enough! He bought some stuff and will be building complete guitars using his parts. And all because of this shootout!! Cool, huh?

Cool to have a new relicer to choose from. Fun thread!

 

[StalePretzel]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

Yes defiantly. I'm glad the quality proved itself in your case, and I hope those who need answers will find them on this thread. I have nothing against MJT. I just feel that because you're the only person selling a certain something, doesn't give you the right to overprice it. And i've noticed a steady rise in his pricing. I hope that Blackpoole will learn from this and keep their excellent quality at a decent price.

Let us know what your brother thinks of his tele, and if you find time, please post pictures of your fully assembled tele once it is done.

 

[beandip]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

Yes defiantly. I'm glad the quality proved itself in your case, and I hope those who need answers will find them on this thread. I have nothing against MJT. I just feel that because you're the only person selling a certain something, doesn't give you the right to overprice it. And i've noticed a steady rise in his pricing. I hope that Blackpoole will learn from this and keep their excellent quality at a decent price.

Let us know what your brother thinks of his tele, and if you find time, please post pictures of your fully assembled tele once it is done.

Blackpoole and MJT are not the only two out there selling something such as this. They just happen to be the hot guys right now. A few years ago it was Nash and RS Guitar Works, before them it was a few custom builders and Fender CS.

While they're good at what they do, there's always someone else who will come along and take the spotlight.

 

[StalePretzel]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

I wouldn't even consider Blackpoole a "hot guy". Their sales history reflects that they're pretty fresh on the market.

 

[59tele]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

Yes, that's probably true beandip. As a guitar player, I always believed there's a guy in his basement somewhere that blows Steve Vai and others out of the water BUT he's stuck in his basement. getting out there and being seen is key. Time will tell. I also like the work from rocknroll relics. very nice stuff, too. But i think he builsd complete guitars not parts.

 

[sosomething]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

nah

I don't stand in front of a mirror with my guitar and pretend to be a rock star, either.

 

[59tele]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

That's true Stale. My buddy the owns the store told me they paint for many guitar builders and do CS work for some major guitar companies and just started selling parts to the public a few months ago. Said they had a very nice shop, pro equipment and there were at least 100 bodies drying in a "heated room with lights" and maybe more than that raw on benches being sanded, etc. Looks to be no small backyard operation.

I'm jamming with him in a few days and ask him more questions. I know he was impressed.

 

[beandip]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

An old coworker builds Glendale guitars, that are some high class relics. Everything from scratch, and I mean everything. It's all recreated in the exact same way they would've been built in the 50's.

We'll see if Blackpoole can keep on the steady. He's got great work, no doubt about that. It's just we as guitarists, are always looking for the next best thing. We're looking for just a little bit better in one area or another.

 

[StalePretzel]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

I hope that as well. Hell, the only reason i wrote this thread was because it was good quality for a good price. If either of those changes then my support is void. I'm confident in them though.

 

[59tele]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

After talking with my bud, I'm confident, too. They even had acoustics they were finishing for some builder. Now that's more than just a relic shop for sure. he also saw some ESP and Ibanez stuff in there that were completely raw. maybe they do CS work for them?

I'll find out when i see him.

 

[beandip]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

I'd be interested in finding a builder who can distress and age an acoustic. That's my cup o' tea right there.

 

[StalePretzel]

Re: MJT v.s. Blackpoole: The Ultimate Showdown

That's true. You are this forums #1 "acoustiholic."

Maybe if they ever get their website up, they'll even do relic work on pre-existing guitars.